Phototypographic apparatus



June 29, 1965 A. H. cARMAcK ETAL 3,191,510

PHOTOTYPOGRAPHIC APPARATUS Filed Aug. 51, 1962 e sheets-sheet 1 ATTORNEYJune 29, 1965 A.H.CARMACK ETAL PHOTOTYPOGRAPHIC APPARATUS Filed Aug. 5l,1962 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY d@ Hm June 29, 1965 A. H. cAR'MAcK ETAL 3,191,510

PHoToTYPoGRAPHIc APPARATUS Filed Aug. 31, 1962 e sheets-sheet s June 29,1965 A. H. CARMACK ETAL PHOTOTYPOGRAPHIC APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 4Filed Aug. 31, 1962 June 29, 1965 A. H. cARMAcK ETAL 3,191,510

PHOTOTYPGRAPHIC APPARATUS Filed Aug. s1, 1962 e sheets-sheet 5 BY WMMATTORNEY June 29, 1965 A. H. ARMACK ETAL PHQTOTYPOGRAPHIC AYPARATUS 6Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Aug. 3l, 1962 llilfllilllll nlll'lllll.

I N VEN TOR5 /ZeM/Z. afwzaa Jn l/fe/fre, BY M .4U/im ATTORNEY UnitedStates Patent O 3,191,510 PHOTOTYPOGRAPHIC APPARATUS Allen H. Carmack,352 Mt. Pleasant Drive, Woodbridge, Va., and Jon W. De Frees, Norfolk,Va. (1126 N. Irving St., Arlington, Va.)

Filed Aug. 31, 1962, Ser. No. 220,836 11 Claims. (Cl. 95-4.5)

This invention relates generally to the offset or photolithographieprinting art in which a printing plate having a. photographic image ofthe copy to be printed thereon, is utilized-in the printing. Morespecifically the invention relates lto a phototypographic apparatus forproducing the printing plate. Still more specifically the inventionrelates to an apparatus for producing the photographic negative fromwhich the printing plate is made.

With this type of printing the method of producing the printing plate,in general use at the present time, is to rst have the copy set up intype in order to obtain the desired type style, size, line spacing andlength. After the copy has been set up in type, one or more proofs orprints are struck therefrom which are generally cut up into sections andrearranged in a desired order on a backing member. This rearrangement isthen photographed onto a sensitized film in order to obtain aphotographic negative. The negative, after being developed, is appliedto a sensitized metal plate and exposed to light. The sensitized metalplate, after being developed, constitutes the printing plate by whichthe printing is done.

The type is set up by a hot metal type setting machine such as are nowgenerally referred to as Linotype machines. Machines of this characterare so large, complicated and expensive that only the very largeprinting establishments, such as the newspapers and major printing and/or publishing lirrns, can afford them. Consequently the balance of theprinting industry, such as the job-shops and corporation printingdepartments, which produce half the dollar-volume printing of thecountry, are compelled to have their initial type setting done by largeconcerns which specialize in type setting for the printing industry, whoafter setting the copy in type, furnish the jobber with the desirednumber of proofs or prints therefrom. This initial type setting by thespecialized typesetter constitutes the major portion of the jobbingprinters Voperating costs and overhead.

It is therefore the principal object of this invention to provide anapparatus for producing photolithographic printing plates in such amanner that the aforesaid high cost initial typesetting by specializedfirms is eliminated.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of theaforesaid character which is of such simple construction that it doesnot require the service of a highly skilled and specially trainedmechanic for operation, but which can be operated by any competenttypist.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of theaforesaid character which is relatively small and compact and which canbe manufactured and sold at such a price that the average jobbingprinter can afford to install one in his own plant and therebymaterially reduce his overhead costs by eliminating the useof thespecialized typesetting concern.

In accordance with the invention we produce the composite by which thenegative from which the printing plate is made, by successivelyprojecting the individual char` acters, letters and/ or symbols, of thecopy onto a -film, of veither paper or plastic, ina predeterminedarrangement.

To this end we provide a lm holder which `is adapted to have aphotographic film removably mounted therein.

A stationary element and a rotating element, which are disposed in axialalignment with each other, are mounted 3,191,51@ Patented June 29, 1965lCe adjacent the lm holder in operative relation thereto. The rotatingelement is provided with an annular row of printing characters, lettersand symbols, adjacent the periphery thereof; and the stationary elementis provided with a projection window with which the printing characterson the rotating element are adapted to successively register as therotating element is continuously rapidly rotated during operation. Acharacter image projecting means comprising a photographic lens and alight source, which are mounted in fixed position in axial alignmentwith the projection window in the stationary element is provided forprojecting the image of a selected character on the rotating element,which is in register with the window in the stationary element, onto afilm in the holder. A translating means which is operative, after theprojection of a character image onto the lm, to change the relativeposition of the film holder and the character image projecting meanswith respect to each other, is also provided.

The rotating element is also provided with a plurality of radiallyspaced concentric annular rows of character control windows, and aplurality of radially spaced, concentric annular rows of characterspacing control windows.

The rotating element may consist of a single disk, or one, two or threeseparate disks which are adapted to be mounted in a predetermined fixedrelation with respect to each other. If it consists of a single disk asshown herein, the annular row of printing characters, the plurality ofrows of character control windows, and the plurality of rows ofcharacter spacing control windows are all concentrically disposedthereon. If the rotating element consists of three separate disks theprinting characters are disposed on the first disk, the charactercontrol windows in the second disk, and the character spacing controlwindows in the third disk. And if the rotating element consists of twodisks the printing characters and the character spacing control windowsare disposed in the first disk, and the charcter control windows in thesecond disk.

The stationary element, in addition to the single window with which theprinting characters are adapted to register is also provided with aplurality of auxiliary character control windows which are bothangularly and radially spaced with respect to each other, and each ofwhich is adapted to align with one of the concentric character controlrows ofthe rotating element. The stationary element is also providedwith a plurality of auxiliary character spacing control windows whichare also both angularly and radially spaced with respect to each other,and each of which is adapted to align with one of the character spacingcontrol rows of the rapidly rotating element.

A light source, a focusing lens, and a photoelectric cell are mounted infixed position in axial alignment with each of the auxiliary charactercontrol and auxiliary character spacing control windows, with the lightsources and focussing lenses being disposed on one side of both thestationary element and the rotating element, and the photoelectric cellsbeing disposed on the other side thereof.

As previously stated the rotary element is constantly rapidly rotatedduring operation. During rotation thereof successive character controlwindows in each annular row of character control windows disposed in therotary element will successively register with the associated auxiliarycharacter control windows disposed in the stationary element. Each timea character control window registers with an auxiliary character controlwindow, light from the associated light source will be projected throughthe aligned windows against the associated photoelectric cell, therebycausing the photoelectric cell to trigger a y pulse which is tlrstamplified and then imparted to a comparator decoder control mechanism.

Also during rotation of the rotary element successive character spacingcontrol windows in each annular row of character spacing control windowsdisposed in the rotary element will successively register' with theauxiliary character spacing control windows disposed in the stationaryelement. And each time a character spacing control window registers withan auxiliary character spacing control window, light from the associatedlight source is projected through the registering windows against theassociated photoelectric cell, thereby causing the photoelectric cell totrigger a pulse which is ampliiied iirst and then imparted to thetranslating mechanism.

The character control windows in the various annular rows of charactercontrol windows disposed in the rotary element are so arranged withrespect to each other, and the auxiliary character control windowsdisposed in the stationary element are so arranged with respect to eachother and to the character control windows in the rotary element that aplurality of pairs ot character control windows and auxiliary charactercontrol windows will be in register at the same time. But the characterspacing control windows in the various annular rows or character spacingcontrol windows in the rotary element are so arranged with respect oeach other and to the auxiliary character spacing control windows in thestationary element that only a single character spacing control windowand a single auxiliary character spacing control window are in registerat any one time.

From this it will be apparent that a plurality of character controlpulses will be simultaneously generated, and that a plurality ofcharacter spacing control pulses will also be simultaneously generated.The plurality of character control pulses constitute a printingcharacter code, and the plurality ot character spacing control pulsesconstitute a character spacing code. The arrangement of the variouswindows in the rotary element and the stationary element is such thateach printing character has a different code and also a ditlerentspacing code.

The auxiliary character control windows and the auxiliary characterspacing control windows in the stationary element are so positioned andarranged with respect to the character projection window therein, andthe character control windows and the character spacing control windowsin the rotating element are so arranged with respect to their respectivecharacter thereon and with respect to the auxiliary character controland character spacing windows in the stationary element that thecharacter and character spacing codes for a selected character will al-Ways be generated simultaneously with the registration of the selectedcharacter on the rotating element with the character projection windowin the stationary element.

The photographic lens and the translating mechanism are renderedoperative by an electronic mechanism which is rendered operative by anassociated keyboard which is provided with a manually depressable keyfor each character on the rotating element. Otherwise the keyboard issimilar to the standard conventional typewriter keyboards, beingprovided with the usual spacer bar, back spacer, line shifter, andre-set keys.

Each time the key for any selected character is depressed it eifects thegeneration of the same character code pulses as those generated by thecooperative action of the stationary and rotary elements. These pulsesare first recorded or stored in a magnetic memory device from which theyare subsequently imparted to the comparator decoder control mechanismwhere they are combined with the similar code pulses imparted theretofrom the rotating and stationary elements code generating mechanism.This combining of the two similar sets of code pulses, when the selectedcharacter on the rotating element is in register with the characterprojection window, causes the comparator decoder control mechanism toimpart an actuating pulse which renders the lens operative to projectthe selected character onto tl e hlm in the iilm holder.

At the same time the comparator decoder imparts an actuating pulse tothe translating means which effects a change in the relative positionsoi the character image projecting means and the film holder inaccordance with the unit spacing code for the selected characterimparted to the translating means from the element generating mechanism.The foregoing operation is repeated for each successively depressed keyon the keyboard.

The magnetic memory device comprises two similar magnetic drums each ofwhich has a combined recording, read-out and erasing head operativelyassociated therewith.

Each time a key for a selected character is depressed it actuates apredetermined combination of a plurality of micro switches in accordancewith the pulse code for the selected character. The actuation of thepredetermined combination of switches causes a pulse generator andamplifier to generate the requisite code signal pulses and impart themto one or the other of the magnetic memory drums through an alternatingswitching unit which is operative to alternately connect one ofthe drumsto the pulse generator while connecting the other drum to the comparatordecoder control mechanism. Y

The magnetic drums are adapted to be intermittently advanced step bystep after each code signal imparted thereto until the code signals foran entire line of copy have been imparted thereto, after which the drumis adapted to be returned to initial position and connected to thecomparator decoder control mechanism. While the code signals for oneline of copy arebeing recorded on one of the drums the code signals foranother Vline of copy, which were previously recorded on the other ofthe drums, are being imparted to the comparator decoder through aread-back pulse amplifier. After all of the code signals on a drum havebeen read out and imparted to the comparator decoder control mechanismthe drum is returned to its initial position and connected to the pulsegenerator. As the drum is being returned to initial position the codesignal pulses thereon are erased.

A re-set and line spacing key is also provided on the keyboard which isoperative when depressed to effect the imparting of a re-set pulse tothe comparator decoder through the magnetic memory device after the codesignals for one line of copy have been recorded on one of the magneticdrums, and the code signals previously recorded on the other of thedrums havebeen read out and imparted to the comparator decoder controlmechanism. In response to a re-set signal the comparator decoder impartsan actuating pulse to the translating mechanism which effects theelevating of the film holder a predetermined amount. ln further responseto a re-set signal the comparator decoder also imparts an actuatingpulse to the magnetic memory device which is operative to effect theactuation of the alternating switch unit to reverse the connection ofthe two magnetic drums with respect to the pulse generator andcomparator decoder, return the drums from which the code signals havejust been read-out and imparted to the comparator decoder, to initialposition, erase the code signals thereon, and initiate the recording ofnew code signals thereon and the reading out of the code signals justrecorded on the other drum.

Each line of copy typed and projected onto the film must occupy orextend from end to end of a predetermined length. of space on the iilm,with the beginning of successive lines disposed in vertical alignment.This is determined by the operator prior to typing a line of copy. Thewidth of characters and the spacing between characters is fixed inaccordance with the type of characters being used. This spacing of thecharacters upon the `lm is determined by the character spacing code, forthe particular type of characters used, which is generated by thecooperative action -of the character spacing control Windows providedfor the particular type of characters used, with f' the auxiliarycharacter spacing control windows which are the same for all types ofcharacters. It being understood that the arrangement of characterspacing control windows in the rotaryelement are changed in accordancewith the different types of characters used.

Assuming tha-t a typed line of copyprojected onto a film in accordancewith the generated code signals for the particular type of charactersused does not extend the full length of .the predetermined length ofline on the ilm, means .must beprovided for increasing the length of theline on the film. Since the width of the characters and the spacingbetween characters is iixed, other me-ans must be provided for extendingthe length of the line projected onto the iilm. This is done byproportionately increasing the spacingbetween the various words of aline projected onto the film. For this purpose a line and columnjust-iiication mechanism comprising an electronic computer means whichisconnected to the keyboard, the comparator decoder andthe translatingmeans,.is provided. This justiiication mechanism, which is also renderedoperative by the keyboard, automatically spaces the va-ri-ous words of aline from each other in such a manner that successive typed lines ofcopy will extend the full predetermined length of line on the iilm.

After each line of copy has been typed on the keyboard and-projectedonto the ilm, the foregoing operations will be repeated for eachsucceeding line of copy typed, upon the actuation of the re-set and linespacing key on the keyboard.

Having stated the principal objects of the invention other and morelimi-ted objects thereof will be apparent from the followingspeciication and the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof inwhich;

lFIG. 1 and FIG. 1A joined together on the lines A-A thereon -constitutea diagrammatic lay-out of a phototypographic apparatus constructedaccording to our invention;

FIG. 2 and FIG. 2A joined together on the lines B-B thereon constitute atace View of the rotary element showing the printing characters thereon,the character control and character spacing control windows therein, andtherelative positions thereof with respect to each other;

FIG. 3 is a face view of the stationary element showing the characterprojecting window therein, the auxiliary character control and theauxiliary character spacing'con. trol windows therein, and the relativepositions thereof with respect to each other;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged central vertical section through .the cooperatingstationary and rotary elements, showing the cooperative relation of theprinting characters on the rotary element, the character projectionwindow in the stationary element, and the character image projectionmechanism with respect to 'each other; the cooperative relation ofthecharacter control windows Iin the rotary element, the auxiliarycharacter control windows in the stationary element .and the characterlcode signal pulse generating means with respect `to each other; and thecooperative relation of the character spacing control windows in therotary element, the auxiliary character spacing control windows in thestationary element, and the character spacing code signal pulsevgenera-ting ymeans with respect 'to each other;

FIG. 5 4is -a diagrammatic deta-il vertical sectional view showing aslightly modified control means for the character image projectionmechanism; and

FIG. -6 is a diagrammatic detail horizontal sectional view showing lamodi-tied means `for. projecting a character image onto a film, and forchanging |the relative position of the film lholder and a 'film therein,:and the character image projecting means with respect to each other.

The specitic construction and operation of the appara- -tus will now bedescribed with the use of reference numerals in connect-ion with thedrawing. As shown therein, the apparatus comprises a film holder `1 inwhich a photographic iilm 2 is adapted to be removably mounted. rDheiilm holder "1 is suitably mounted -for -both lateral and 6,vcrticalmovement during operation of'the apparatus, a translatingmechanism, being provided `for-this purpose.

The translating mechanism comprises a servo 4, which under the controlof an auxiliary electronic cont-rol unit 5, is adapted to intermittently-advance the holder 1 predetermined amounts laterally; Yand a servo 6,which under the control of an electronic control unit 7, is adapted tointermittently advance the holder 1 predetermined amounts vertically. l

A stationary element shown herein Ias Ia disk 8 is mounted in yfixedposition rearwardly of the holder 1 in operative -relation thereto; anda rotary element shown herein as a disk 9, which is adapted to beconstantly rotated in the order of 300 r.p.m. 'by a motor '10 duringoperation, is mounted in axial align-ment ywith the disk `8 closelyadjacent thereto. Each of the disks 8 and 9 consists of a transparentplastic base 1\1 having athin opaque coating 1=2 applied to one sidethereof.

The rotary disk `9, adjacent the periphery thereof, is provided with anannular r-ow of printing characters 13, letters and symbols, which arerformed by cutting away the opaque coating 12 in the shape of thecharacters the-reby exposing the transparent ibase. The rotary disk 9 iSalso provided with a plurality lof spaced concentric circular rows ofannularly spaced character control windows 14. As shown herein vsevensuch rows, which are designated A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6 and A7respectively, are provided. The rotary disk 9 is .also provided with aplurality of `concentric circular rows of annularly spaced characterspacing control `windows 16, eighteen such rows 15 'being shown herein.v

The stationary disk y8 is provided with a single char# acter projectionwindow 17 with which successive Vprinting characters 13 are adapted toregister -as the rotary disk 9 is rotated. The stationary disk 8 is alsoprovided with a plural-ity of .angularly and radially spaced auxiliarycharacter control windows, designated B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6 and B7,which are so positioned in the disk 8 that one of the wind-ows B1 to B7will ali-gn with each of the rows A1 `to A7 respectively of charactercontrol windows 114 in the disk 9 whereby the character control windows14 in each of the rows A1 to A7. will successively register with theauxiliary character control window in alignment the-rewith as saidrotary disk 9 is rotated. The stationary disk 8 -is also provided witheighteen annularly and radially spaced auxiliary character spacingcontrol windows 1-8 which .are so positioned in the disk l8 that on-e ofthe auxiliary character spacing .control windows 18 will .align witheach of the rows 15 of the character spacing control windows 16 in therotary disk y9, whereby the successive character spacing control windows16 in any row 15 of character spacing control windows will successivelyregister with 'the auxiliary character control wind-ow .18 in alignmenttherewith in the saine manner that the character con-trol windows 14 inthe rotary disk `9 successively register with the .auxiliary charactercontrol vsvindows AB1 to B7 in the stationary disk l8 as the disk y9 isrotated.

The character control windows 14 and the character spacing controlwindows 16 in the rotating disk 9, the auxiliary character controlwindows B1 to B7, the auxiliary character spacing control windows 18 andthe character projection window 17 in the stationary disk 8 are allpreferably formed by cutting away the opaque coatings '-12 of the disks8 and 9 in the same manner that the printing characters 13 are formed.But if desired, all of these windows could consist of apertures whichextend entirely through the disks 8 and 9, which would of necessity bedone if the disks 8 and 9 were made of a single thickness of metal orother opaque material. In the drawings the various windows and printingcharacters are shown in solid black, instead of in outline, for ease andclarity of illustration.

A photographic lens 20 and a light source 21 are disposed in axialalignment with the character projection window 17, in the stationarydisk 8, with the lens 20 disposed between the disk 8 and the iilm holder1, and the light source 21 disposed in spaced relation thereto with thestationary disk S and the rotary disk 9 interposed therebetween. Thelight source 21 which is normally deenergized under the control of anelectronic control unit 22, renders the photographic lens 2t?inoperative to project a printing character on the rotating disk 9 whichis in register with the projection window 17 onto the film 2 in the iilmholder 1. Whenever the light source 21 is momentarily energized by thecontrol unit 22, as will be hereinafter described, the photographic lensZtl! is rendered operative to project the image of a printing character13 on the rotary disk 9, which is in register with the characterprojection window 17 in the stationary disk 8, onto the iilm 2 in the lmholder 1.

A plurality of constantly energized light sources 23, avplurality offocusing lenses 24 and a plurality of photoelectric cells 25 areprovided, one each of which are mounted in iixed position in axialalignment With each of the auxiliary character control windows, B1 toB7, with the disks 8 and 9 being interposed between the lenses 24 andthe photoelectric cells 25. A plurality of similar light sources 26,focusing lenses 27 and photo-electric cells 2S are similarly disposed inaxial alignment with each ot the auxiliary character spacing controlwindows 13. Whenever a character control window 14, in the rotating disk9, registers with an auxiliary character control window Bl to B7, in thestationary disk 8, light will be projected through the aligned windowsby the associated focusing lens 24 against the associated photoelectriccell 2S. Likewise whenever a character spacing control window 16, in therotating disk 9, registers with an auxiliary character spacing controlwindow 13, in the stationary disk 8, light will be projected through thealigned chariacter spacing `and `auxiliary character spacing controlwindows by the associated lens 27 against the associated photoelectriccell 28. Each time a light source is projected against .a photoelectriccell Ithe photoelectric cell against which a light source is projectedwill generate an electric pulse.

During the rotation of the rotating disk 9 each time a printingcharacter 13 in the rotating disk 9, is in register with the projectionwindow 17 inthe stationary disk 8 a plurality of auxiliary charactercontrol windows 14, in the rotating disk 9, each one of which is in aditlerent row A1 to A7, will register with the associated auxiliarycharacter control window B1 to B7 in the stationary disk 8. Thecharacter control windows 14 in the various rows A1 to A7 are soarranged with respect to each other and to the auxiliary charactercontrol windows B1 to B7 that there will be a different combination ofregistering character control and auxiliary character control windowsfor each printing character 13 on the rotating disk 9. As previouslystated whenever a character control window is in register with anauxiliary character control window, light from the associated lightsource will be projected lthrough the'aligned registering pair ofwindows against the associated photoelectric cell, thereby causing thecell to generate an electric pulse. lt will therefore be seen that eachtime a printing character 13 on the rotating disk 9 is in register withthe character projection window 17 in the stationary disk 8 apredetermined combination of pulses will be generated which constitutesa character f code signal.

The character spacing control windows 16 in the rotating disk 9 are soarranged with respect to each other and to the auxiliary characterspacing control windows 1S in the stationary disk S that a characterspacing control and an auxiliary character spacing control window willbe in registering alignment each time a printing character 13 is inregister with the projection window 17. Therefore a predetermined numberof electric pulses, which constitute a character spacing co-de signal,will likewise be generated each time a printing character 13 is inregister with the character projection window 17.

The character code signal pulses are imparted through a cable 3d andamplifier 31 to a comparator decoder control mechanism 32; and thecharacter spacing code signal pulses are imparted through a cable 33 andan ampliiier 34 to the control unit 5 of the translating means. Theprojection of a printing character 13 onto the iilm 2 and the spacing otthe projected characters on the lm with respect to each succeedingcharacter projected onto the film are controlled by the comparatordecoder control mechanism 32 in accordance with the character codesignals imparted thereto, and the character spacing code signalsimparted to the control unit 5, and the operation of the comparatordecoder control mechanism 32 to eifect the projection and spacing ofprinting characters on the film is controlled in accordance withcharacter code signals, which are generated in response to the manualoperation of a keyboard 4d, and also imparted tothe compara-V tordecoder control mechanism 32.

The keyboard 4t) is provided with a plurality of character keys 41, onefor each character 13 on the rotary disk 9, a spacer bar 42, a re-setand line spacer key 43, and to .the auxiliary character spacing -controlwindows is the same as a conventional typewriter keyboard and is adaptedto be manually operated in the same manner.

Each time a printing character key 41, for a selected character 13, ismanually actuated it effects the generation oi a plurality of pulseswhich constitute a character code signal identical with the charactercodeV signal generated by the cooperative action of the disks S and 9for the said selected character. The character code signal pulses thusgenerated are iirst recorded in a magnetic memory device generallyindicated by the numeral 45, and then subsequently imparted to thecomparator decoder control mechanism 32. Then when a similar charactercode signal is imparted to the comparator decoder control mechanism 32from the photoelectric cells 2S through the l cable 3i) and amplifier 31and a corresponding character spacing code signal for the said selectedcharacter is iniparted to the control unit 5 through the cable 33 andamplilier 34, the comparator decoder 32 control mechanism is renderedoperative to impart a triggering pulse, through the conductor 48 to thecontrol unit 5 for the servo 4:-, and through the conductors 48 and 49to the control unit 22 for the light source 21, all of which is donesimultaneously with the registration of the said selected character 13on the rotating disk 9 with the character projection window 17 in thestationary disk S. The control unit 22 through the co-nductor 5t)effects the momentary energization of the light source 21 therebypermitting the photographic lens 20 to project the image of the saidselected character onto the film 2; and the control unit 5, through theconductor 51, effects the operation of the servo 4 to shift the holder 1and iilm 2 mounted therein into position for the image of the nextprinting character selected to be projected onto the film 2 in properspaced relation to the next preceeding character image projected ontothe film, there being sufiicient lag in the operation oi the servo 4 toprevent movement of the holder 1 and film 2 until after the light source21 has been de-energized by the control unit 22. j

A plurality of pulse generators designated C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6 andC7, which correspond respectively to the auxiliary character controlwindows B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B5 and B7, in the stationary disk S, areprovided in connection with the keyboard 4t?. Each of the character keys41 in the keyboard di?, is operatively connected to a predeterminednumber of the pulse generators C1 to C7, each of the keys 41 beingconnected to a diiterent combination of pulse generators C1 to C7. Eachtime a character key 41 is actuated it causes the pulse generatorsconnected thereto to generate pulses which are imparted throughconductors 52 to an amplifier Siyfrorn which they are imparted to themagnetic memory device 45, as will now be described. h

The magnetic memory device 45 comprises a pair of similar rotatablemounted magnetic drums 60 and 61 which are adapted to be intermittentlyadvanced step by step during operation. A combined recording, read-outand erasing head 62 is operatively associated with the drum 60, andasimilar head 63 is operatively associated with the drum 61. The heads 62and 63, and consequently the drums 60 and 61, are adapted to bealternately connected first to the amplifier 53 and then to thecomparator decoder control mechanism 32. After one of the drums has hadthe character code rsginals for a full line of copy recorded thereon itis disconnected Ifrom the arnpliiier 53 and connected to the comparatordecoder control mechanism 32 and returned to initial position; andsimultaneously therewith the other of the drums is disconnected from thecomparator decoder 32 and connected to the amplifier 53, and returned toinitial position. This arrangement and mode of operation permits therecording of the character code signals for one line of copy to berecorded on one of the drums simultaneously with the reading out andimparting to the comparator decoder control mechanism 32 the charactercode signals for another line of copyy which had previously beenrecorded on the other of the drums. The drum 60 is adapted to beintermittently advanced step by step, during both recording and readoutby an intermittently actuated advancing mechanism 64, and to be returnedto initial position, after both recording and read-out, by a re-setservo 65; and the drum 61 is adapted to be similarly advanced andreturned to initial position by a similar intermittently actuatedadvancing mechanism 66 and servo 67.

The sequential operation of the drums 60 and 61 is con trolled by aswitching mechanism generally indicated by the numeral 68, Asdiagrammatically shown herein the switching mechanism 68 comprises twosimilar individual units 69 and 78 which are mechanicallyl connectedtogether, as indicated at 72, for rotation through 90, by a servo 73,after each recording of a series of character code signals on a drum.The switch unit 69 is provided with two similar conducting bridges 74and 75 spaced 180 apart, and the unit 70 is provided with two similarconducting bridges 76 and 77 spaced 180 apart.

The switching unit 69 is connected to the amplifier 53 by a cable 80 andto the head 62 by a cable 81. Itis also connected to the head 63 by acable 82, and to the comparator decoder control mechanism 32 by a cable83 in which an amplifier 84 is interposed. As shown hereinthe switchingmechanism 68 is in position Ifor character code signal pulses impartedfrom the amplifier 53 to be recorded on the drum 60, and for charactercode signal pulses previously recorded on the drum 61 to be read-out andimparted to the comparator decoder control mechanism 32. In thisposition of the switching mechanism 68 the cables 80 and 81 areelectrically connected together by the bridge 74 of the unit 69, and thecables 82 and 83 are electrically connected together by the bridge 75thereof. Pulses from the amplifier 53 are therefore being imparted fromthe amplifier 53 to the head 62, for recording on the drum 60, throughthe cable 80, bridge 74 and cable 81. Simultaneously therewithpreviously recorded pulses are being readout from the drum 61 by thehead 63 and imparted to the comparator decoder control mechanism 32through the cable 82, bridge 75 cable 83 and amplifier 84. Whenever theswitching mechanism 68 is rotated 90 in either direction one of thebridges 74 and 75 of the unit 69 will electrically connect the cable 80to the cable 32 and the other of the bridges 74 and 75 thereof willelectrically connect the cable 81 to the cable 83. In this position ofthe switching mechanism 68 pulses `from the amplifier 53 will beimparted to the head 63, for recording on the drum 61, through the cable80, one of the bridges 74-75, and the cable 82; and simultaneouslytherewith pulses previously recorded on the drum 60 will be read-out bythe head 62 10 and imparted to the comparator decoder control mechanism32 through the cable 81, the other ofthe bridges 7 4- 75, cable S3 andamplifier 84.

After each line of copy is typed on the keyboard 40 the line terminationkey 44 is actuated. The line termina'- tion key 44 is connected to apulse generator 85 which in turn is connected, through a conductor 86,to the amplifier 53. Pulses generated by the generator 85, in responseto the actuation of the key 44, are imparted to the amplifier 53, andfrom there, through the cable 80, to and recorded on the drums 66-61 inthe same manner that character code signal pulses from the amplifier 53are imparted to the drums 60-61; and from the drums 60-61 these linetermination pulses are imparted to the comparator decoder controlmechanism 32 immediately after the imparting of the character codesignal pulses thereto.

Each of the printing character keys 41 is connected to a pulse generator87 which in turn is connected to an amplifier 88. The switching unit 70,of the switching mechanism 68, is connected to the amplifier 88 by aconductor .89 and to the intermittently actuated advancing mechanism 64vfor the drum 66 by a conductor 90, and to the intermittently actuatedVadvancing mechanism 66 for the drum 61 by a conductor 91. The switchingunit 70 is also connected, by a conductor 92 to the control unit 5. Eachtime a printing character key 41 is actuated it effects the generationof a drum advancing pulse which is imparted from the'amplifier 88 to theswitching unit 7 0 through the conductor '89. From the switching unit7i), when the switching mechanism 68 is in the position shown forrecording character code signal pulses on the drum 60, these drumadvancing pulses are imparted to the advancing unit 64 for the drum 60through the conductor 90 and the bridge 7 6 of the switching unit 7 0which electrically connects the conductor 89 to the conductor 90. At thesame time the advancing mechanism 66 for the drum 621 is connected tothe control unit 5 by the conductor 91, bridge 77, and conductor 92. Thedrum 60 will therefore beintermittently advanced, during recording, bythe advancing mechanism 64 in response to pulses imparted thereto, fromthe character `spacing generator 87 and amplifier 88 through `theconductor 89, bridge 76, and conductor 9.0; and simultaneously therewithkthe drum 61 will be intermittently advanced, during read-out by theadvancing mechanism y66 in response to drum advancing pulses fed backthereto from the control unit 5 though the conductor 92, bridge 77 andconductor 91. When the switching mechanism 68 is rotated 90 in eitherdirection from the position shown, thereby connecting the drum 61 to theamplifier 53 lfor recording and the drum 60 to the comparator decoder 32for read-out, drum advancing pulses from the generator 87 and amplifier88 will be imparted to the advancing mechanism 66, for the drum 61,through the conductor 89, one of the bridges 76-77, and conductor 91;and simultaneously therewith drum advancing pulses will be fed back fromthe control unit 5 Vto the advancing mechanism 64, for the drum 60,through the conductor 92, the other of the vbridges 76-77, and conductor90.

The spacer bar 42 is operatively connected to a pulse generator 93 whichin turn is connected to the amplifier 53 Lby a conductor 94. The spacerbar 42, when actuated, is `operative to effect 4the generation of wordspacing pulses which provide the requisite spacing between the words ofaKline of copy being typed. After each word of a copy being typed on thekeyboard 40, the spacer bar is actuated to provide the requisite spacingbetween words of a copy being typed. Whenever the spacer bar 42 isactuated the pulse generator v93 emits pulses which are imparted to theamplifier 53, through conductor 94, andl from the amplifier 53 to .thedrum V60 or 61 connected to the amplifier 53 for the recording of pulsesthereon. The word spacing pulses generated by the pulse generator 93 andrecorded on one of the drums 60-61 are subsequently imparted to thecomparator decoder control mechanism 32 through the conductor 30,switching unit 69 and conductor 83. The character spacing pulses and theword spacing pulses imparted to the comparator decoder control mechanism32 are subsequently imparted to the control unit 5 through a |linejustication computing unit, generally indicated by the numeral 95, whichis connected to the comparator decoder control mechanism 32 by aconductor 96 and to the control unit through a conductor 97, for thepurpose to be hereinafter described. The Word spacing pulses generatedby the generator 93 are also imparted to the justification mechanismunit 95 through a conductor 98 which is connected to the linejustification unit 95 and the conductor 94 by which the pulse generator93 is connected to the amplifier 53.

The re-set and line spacing key 43, of the keyboard 4t), is operativelyconnected to a pulse generator 99, which in turn is connected to anamplifier 99a by a conductor 100. The re-set amplifier 99a is connectedby a conductor 101 to a control unit 1112 for the magnetic memory device45. The control unit 1112 is connected to the re-s-et servo 67 for thedrum 61 by a conductor 1113, and to the re-set servo 65 for the drum 6?by the conductor 103 and a branch conductor 104. The control unit 102 isalso connected to the servo 73, by which the switching mechanism 68'isadapted to be rotated 90 after a line termination pulse has beenrecorded on one of the drums 611-61, by a conductor 1135. v

Whenever a line termination pulse, at the end of a series of pulses,recorded on a drum, is read-out and imparted to the comparator decodercontrol mechanism 32 it causes the comparator decoder control unit 32 toimpart an actuating pulse to the control unit 7 of the translatingmechanism 3 through a conductor 1li-6, and to the control unit 102 forthe memory device 45 through the conductor 10o and a branch conductor197. Upon the receipt of an lactuating pulse from the comparator decodercontrol mechanism 32 the control unit 7, which is connected to the servo6 by a conductor 108, effects the operation of the servo 6 to elevatethe film holder 1 a distance equal to the desired spacing between linesof copy being projected onto the film 2.

After the pulses for a line of copy, including the line terminationpulse, have been recorded on one of the drums 60451 the re-set key 43 isactuated which causes the generation of a re-set pulse which is impartedthrough the conductor 101 to the control unit 192 whe-re it is combinedwith the pulse imparted to the control unit 102 by the comparatordecoder control mechanism 32 in response to aline termination pulseread-out from the other of the drums 619-61 and imparted to thecomparator decoder control mechanism 32. The combining of these twopulses 4in the control unit 1112 causes the control unit 102, throughthe conductors 103 and 1114, to effect the actuation of the servos 65and 67 to return the drums eti and 61 back to their initial position;and through the conductor 165 effect the actuation of the servo 73 torotate the switching mechanism 63 through 90 thereby reversing theconnection of the drums 69 and 61 to and between the amplifier 53 andthe comparator decoder control mechanism 32. The entire apparatus isthen in condition for the next line of copy to be typed and projectedonto the film 2.

Each line of copy typed on the keyboard 411 for projection onto the film2 must extend from end to end of a predetermined length of space on thefilm 2, which is determined by the operator prior to the typing, and seton a line length control gauge 110 which is associated with the keyboard4t? and has an indicator 116 slidably mounted thereon, which is adaptedto be set on the gauge 110 in accordance with the desired end of a line.The width of the printing characters and the spacing between individualprinting characters is fixed, in accordance with the particular type ofprinting character being used and cannot be increased or decreased.

Let it be assumed that the space between the individual printingcharacters, of a particular type of printing character being used issuch that a line of copy will not occupy the full predetermined lengthof space, or line, on the film 2 when projected thereonto in accordancewith the predetermined spacing between individual printing charactersand the nominal spacing between successive words of a typed line ofcopy. Since the spacing between the individual pninting characters beingused cannot be changed, other means must be provided for increasing thelength of a typed line of copy until it occupies the full predeterminedlength of space on the film 2. This is accomplished by increasing thespacing between the individual words of a line of copy as projected ontothe film 2.

The line justification unit 9S is operative to automaticallyproportionately increase the spacing between successive words of a lineof copy as it is projected onto the film 2 is therefore provided.

The specific construction and operation of the line justication unit915, per se, forms no part of the present invention. Consequently onlythe general operation thereof and the manner in which it is connectedinto the instant apparatus will be described herein.

The line justification unit comprises electronic computer means which isconnected to the comparator decoder control mechanism 32 by theconductor 96, to the word spacing generator 93 by the conductors 94 and98,.and to the control unit 5 by the conductor 97.

A potentiometer, generally indicated by the numeral 111, which isoperatively associated with the line space control gauge 111i comprisesa resistance winding 112 and a pair of sliders 113 and 114. The winding112 has a ixed voltage, in the order of 300 volts D.C. constantlyapplied thereto as indicated at 115. The slider 113 is secured to theindicator 116, on the gauge 110, which is adapted to be set thereon inaccordance with the desired length and end of a line of the film 2. Theslider 114 which is initially set at the Zero position on thepotentiometer winding 112 is mechanically connected to a unit spaceadvancing mechanism 117, as indicated at 118, for movement along theresistor 112 during operation. The slider 113, is connected to thejustification mechanism 95 by a conductor 119, and the slider 114 isconnected to the justication mechanism 95 by a conductor 120.

The operation of the unit space advancing mechanism 117, by which theslider 114 is intermittently advanced along the resistor 112 from itsinitial position towards the fixed slider 113, is controlled by anauxiliary comparator decoder mechanism 121 through on interposedconductor 122. The comparator decoder 121 is connected to the charactercode signal pulse amplifier 31, by which the character code signalpulses generated by the cooperative action of the disks 8 and 9 areamplified by a conductor 123; and to the amplifier 53, by which thecharacter code signal pulses generated by the actuation of a characterkey 41 are amplified, by a cable 124 which is connected t0 the cable 8)through which character code signal pulses are imparted to the memorydevice 45, from the amplifier 53. The unit space advancing mechanism 117is connected to the amplifier 34, by which the character spacing codesignal pulses generated by the cooperative action ot the disks 3 and 9are amplified, by a cable 125 and the cable 33. The unit space advancingmechanism 117 is also connected to the conductor 98, through which wordspacing pulses generated by the actuation of the spacer bar 42 areimparted to the line justification unit 95 from the word space pulsegenerator 93, by a conductor 126; and to the line justificationmechanism 95 by a conductor 127.

The character spacing code signal pulses generated by the cooperativeaction of the disks 8 and 9 are imparted to the control unit 5 aretherefore simultaneously imparted to the unit space advancing mechanism117; and the word spacing pulses generated by the actuation of thespacer bar 42 and imparted to the line justification unit 95 are alsosimultaneously imparted to the unit space advancing mechanism 117.

The character code signal pulses generated by the cooperative action ofthe disks 8 and 9 and imparted to the comparator decoder controlmechanism 32 are also simultaneously imparted to the auxiliarycomparator decoder 121; and the character code signal pulses generatedby the actuation of a character key 41 and imparted to the memory device45 for recording7 therein are also simultaneously imparted to theauxiliary comparator decoder 121.

The spacing between different printing characters varies in accordancewith the nature of the characters and the type of printing charactersbeing used. more space units. The nominal spacing between words isusually fixed at six space units.

Each time a selected character key 41 is actuated the character codesignal therefor generated thereby, is imparted to the auxiliarycomparator ldecoder 121 where it is combined with a similar charactercode Signal which is generated by the cooperative actionof the disks 8and 9 and imparted to the auxiliary comparator decoder 121. Thiscombining of the two similar character code signal pulses by theauxiliary comparator decoder 121 causes the comparator decoder 121 totrigger the unit space advancing mechanism 117 to advance the slider 114towards the fixed slider 113 a distance along the resistor 112 which isequal to the voltage equivalent of the spacing between the selectedcharacter and the next selected character which may be one or more unitspaces, as determind by the character spacing code signal for theselected character, imparted to the unit space advancing mechanism 117from the amplifier 34, for the selected character key 41 actuated.

Each time the spacing bar 42 is actuated it triggers the unit spaceadvancing mechanism 121 to advance the slider 114 towards the fixedslider 113 a distance equal to the voltage equivalent of the nominalspacing between words as determined by the line justification unit 95and imparted to the unit space advancing mechanism 117 through theconductor 127.

Let it be assumed that one volt is the equivalent of one space unit,that the slider 114 is at zero position 122 of the resistor 112 and thatthe slider 113 is set at the 150 volt position on the resistor 112, andthat at the end of the typing of a line of copy on the keyboard 40 theslider 114 had been advanced to the 140 volt position on the resistor112. There istherefore a difference of l() volts between the slider 113and 114, which voltage difference is Vimparted to the line justificationunit 95 through .the conductor 119 and 120. Based on the assumption thatone v-olt is the equivalent of one space unit the ten voltage differencebetween the sliders 113 and 114 indicates that the line of copy justtyped on the keyboard 40 would fall 10' space units short of the desiredlength of line on the film 2 if it was projected onto film 2 inaccordance with the word spacing units imparted to the linejustification unit 95 from the generator 93 through the conductor 98.The justification unit 95 is therefore operative to proportionatelyincrease the spacing between the words of the line of copy just typed,in accordance with the l volt difference between the sliders 113 and 114and impart the resultant word spacing to the control unit through theconductor 97. Based on the further assumption that the line of copytyped contained six words and five word spacers, the justification unit95 would cause each of the five word spacers to be increased by twospace units. K

In connection with the foregoing it should be borne in mindvthat a lineof copy typed on the keyboard 40 is first recorded on one of the memorydrums and then subsequently imparted to the comparator decoder controlmechanism 32 for projection onto the film 2; and that the describedmovement of the slider 114 `along the resistor V112 and the resultingoperation of the unit space advancing mechanism 117 occurs during therecording of a typed line of copy on one of the drums 60 or 61 of thememory device 45. Then as a recorded line 0f copy is read out It may beone. or'

from a drum and imparted to the comparator decoder control mechanism 32the justification mechanism imparts the computed additional word spacingunits to the control unit 5 to be added to the nominal word spacingunits imparted thereto by the comparator decoder control mechanism 32.

FIG. 5 discloses a slightly modified control means for the photographiclens 20. In this form of the invention we provide the photographic lens20 with a normally closed shutter 150, and we constantly energize thelight source 21 during operation. The shutter 150 is adapted to bemomentarily opened by a solenoid 151 which is connected to the conductor48 by a branch conductor 152. Each time a pulse is imparted from thecomparator decoder control mechanism 32 through the conductor 48, aspreviously described in connection with FIGS. l to 4, it willmomentarily `energize the solenoid 151 which will open the normallyclosed shutter and permit the photographic lens .20 to project the imageof a printing character 13 on the rotary disk 9 which is in registerwith the projection window in the stationary disk 8, onto the film 2 inthe film holder 1. Otherwise this form of the invention .is identicalwith that shown and described in connection with FIGS. l to 4 andoperates in the same manner.

FIG. 6 discloses a slightly modified form of mechanism for automaticallychanging the relative lateral position of the film holder 1, and theprinting character projecting mechanism with respect to each other,after each projection of a printing character image onto the film 2. Inthis form of the invention we mount the film holder 1 for verticalmovement only and dispose it perpendicular to the disks 8 and 9 instead:of parallel thereto. And we provide an optical element 153 which isoperative to deflect a character image projected thereonto, by thephotographic lens 20, at a right angle thereto and onto the film 2 asindicated by the lines 154 and 155 on FIG. 6.

The optical element 153 is mounted on a holder 154 which is adapted tobe intermittently moved back and forth along a supporting track 155, inaxial alignment Vwith the lens 20 and light source 21 by a servo 4. The

loptical element 153 may be a prism or a mirror. If it is a prism thelight rays 156 projected thereagainst by the photographic lens 20 willbe retracted onto the film 2 as indicated by the line 157; and if theoptical element 153 is a mirror the light rays projected thereagainstwill be reliected onto the film 2. After each character image projectedonto the film 2 the holder 154 and optical element 153 thereon are moveda predetermined distance toward the lens 20 by the servo 4, and after afull line of copy has been projected onto the film 2 the film holder v1and film 2 are raised one line space by the servo 6, and

the holder 154 and optical element 153 returned to initial position.Otherwise this form of the invention is identical with that shown anddescribed in connection with FIGS. 1 to 4 and operates in the samemanner.

From the foregoing it will be apparent to those skilled in this art thatwe have provided a very simple, efficient and relatively inexpensiveapparatus for accomplishing the objects of the invention.

It is to be understood that we are not limited to the specificconstruction shown-and described herein as various modifications may bemade therein within the spirit of the invention and the scope of theappended claims. For instance, the stationary and rotary elements maycomprise a stationary and a rotary cylinder instead of the stationaryand rotary disks shown and described; or if desired, they may comprisethe combination of a disk and a cylinder, one of which is stationary andthe other lof which Vis rotary What is claimed is.:

1. A phototypographic apparatus of the character described comprising:

a film holder which is adapted to have a photographic film removablymounted therein, mounting means by which said holder is mounted forlateral and vertical movements, translating means by which said holderis adapted to be intermittently moved laterally and/ or vertical-ly inresponse to code signals imparted to said translating means; stationaryelement having a character image projection window therein, a rotaryelement which is disposed adjacent to said stationary element in axialalignment therewith and is adapted to be constantly rotated duringoperation, an annular row of printing characters disposed on said rotaryelement in position to successively register with said projection windowas said rotary element is rotated;

a character image projecting means comprising a photographic lens and alight source which are mounted in fixed position in axial alignment withsaid projection window with said lens disposed forwardly of saidstationary and rotary elements between said elements and said lm holderand said light source being disposed rearwardly of said'elements, saidlens being operative to project the image of a printing character inregister with said projection window onto a film in said film holder;

control means by which said photographic lens is normally maintainedinoperative to project a printing character image onto said film, saidlens control means being operative in response to an actuating pulseimparted thereto to render said -lens operative to project a printingcharacter image onto said ilm; plurality of annularly and radiallyspaced character control windows, and a plurality of annularly andradially spaced character spacing control windows in said rotaryelement, a plurality of annularly and radially spaced auxiliarycharacter control windows and a plurality of annularly and radiallyspaced auxiliary character spacing control windows in said stationaryelement, certain of said character control windows being adapted toregister with certain of said auxiliary character control windows, andcertain of said character spacing control windows being adapted toregister with certain of said auxiliary character spacing controlwindows when a printing character is in register with said projectionwindow as said rotary element is rotated, there being a differentcombination of registering character control and auxiliary charactercontrol windows for each printing character on said rotary element, afirst pulse generating means and a comparator decoder, the registrationof said certain of said character control windows with said certain ofsaid auxiliary character control windows causing said pulse generatingmeans to emit a plurality of pulses constituting a character codesignal, and the registration of said certain of said character spacingcontrol windows with said certain of said auxiliary character spacingcontrol windows causing said pulse generating means to emit a pluralityof pulses constituting a character spacing code signal simultaneouslywith the character code signal, means by which said character codesignal is imparted to said comparator decoder, and means by which saidcharacter spacing code signal is imparted to said translating means;

manua-lly operable key-board having a plurality of keys correspondingVto the printing characters on said rotary elements, each of said keysbeing operative when actuated to effect the generation of a charactercode signal similar to the character code signal generated by thecooperative action of said stationary and said rotary elements whichcorresponds to the printing character represented by the actuated key,electronic means by which said key iriduced character code signal isgenerated and imparted to said comparator decoder, said comparatordecoder being rendered operative by the two similar character codesignals imparted thereto to impart ld actuating pulses to said controlmeans and to said translating means, said control means being operativein response to the said pulse imparted thereto to render saidphotographic lens operative to project the image of a character inregister with said projection window onto said film, and said holdertranslating means being operative by the said pulse imparted thereto totranslate said film holder in accordance with the character spacing codesignal imparted thereto. 2. A phototypographic apparatus as defined byclaim 1 in which an electronic line justification unit which is conectedto said keyboard is interposed between said comparator decoder and saidtranslating means.

3. A phototypographic apparatus as defined by claim 1 in which said rstpulse generating means comprises a Y plurality of light sources, aplurality of light focusing lenses and a plurality of photoelectriccells, one of said light sources, said lenses and said photoelectriccells being disposed in axial alignment with each of said auxiliarycharacter control and said character spacing control windows in saidstationary element with said stationary element and said rotary elementdisposed between said focusing lens and said photoelectric cells;

each of said lenses being operative to project a ray of light againstthe associated photoelectric cell when the associated auxiliary controlwindow in said stationary element is in register with a control windowin said rotary element, and each of said photoelectric cells beingoperative to generate a pulse each time a ray of light is projectedthereagainst.

4. A phototypographic apparatus as deiined by claim 3` in which saidcharacter control windows in said rotary element are disposed in aplurality of spaced concentric annular rows, with said auxiliarycharacter control windows in said stationary element so disposed thatone of said auxiliary character control windows is adapted to align witheach of said annular rows of character control windows;

`and in which said character spacing control windows in said rotaryelementare also ldisposed in a plurality of spaced annular rows with theauxiliary character spacing control windows in said stationary elementso disposed that one of said auxiliary character control windows isadapted to align with each of said annular rows of 4auxiliary characterspacing control windows.

5. A phototypographic apparatus as defined byV claim 1 in which saidcharacter control windows in said rotary element are disposed in aplurality of spaced concentric annular rows, with said auxiliarycharacter control windows in said stationary element so disposed thatone of said auxiliary character control windows is adapted to align witheach of said annular rows or character control windows;

and in which said character spacing control windows in said rotaryelement are also disposed in a plurality of spaced annular rows with theauxiliary character spacing control windows in said stationary elementso disposed that one of said auxiliary character control windows isadapted to align with each of said annular rows of character spacingcontrol windows.

6. A phototypographic apparatus as defined by claim 1 in which saidelectronic means comprises a second pulse generator, a magnetic memorydevice, means by which a series of successive pulses generated by saidsecond pulse generator is imparted to and recorded in said memorydevice, and means by which pulses recorded in said magnetic memorydevice are subsequently imparted to said comparator decoder.

7. A phototypographic apparatus as defined by claim 6 in which a `reesetmechanism is provided which is responsive to a re-set and line spacingkey in said keyboard and is operative to re-set said magnetic memorydevice for the reception of a new series oi successively generatedpulses after the previously recorded series of pulses has been impartedto said comparator decoder, and to etect the operation of said ilmholder translating means to return said lm holder to initial lateralposition and to elevate said film holder a predetermined amount.`

` 3. A phototypographic apparatus adapted for automatically composing aphotograph of selectable prin-ting characters on a medium comprising incombination a rotary disk including an annular row of said printingcharacters as apertures therein; said disk further including a pluralityof annular rows including apertures in the form of a unique code foreach of said characters; with each code disposed in predeterminedorientation with :the character which it represents; said disk includinga further plurality of annular rows apertured in accordance with aspacing code for each said character with the respective spacing codesbeing oriented in similar predetermined relation to said characters,respectively; the apertures of said annular character code rows and saidannular spacing code rows representing bits ofk the respective codes; astationary element in opposed relation to said disk and including aprojection window at a position in alignment with the character row ofthe rotary disk; said stationary element being apertured at locationscorresponding to each bit posi-tion available to the character code forthe character in alignment with said projection window; said stationaryelement also being apertured at each bit position available for thespacing code associated with said character at the projection window;light projecting means disposed on one side of the opposed rotary diskand element for projecting light through the apertures thereof when inalignment; light responsive means deployed on the other side of saidopposed rotary disk and stationary element at positions corresponding toeach of said available bit positions; said light responsive meansconverting light impinging thereupon through the character codeapertures into electrical impulse character codes and said lightresponsive means receiving light through the spacing bits simultaneouslyconvert-ing the light to electrical spacing code pulses; means forselectably producing pulses coded in accordance with each character;means for cornparing t'he character code pulses from the charater codelight responsive means with the selectably produced character codepulses to sense a matched condition; means for photographing thecharacter in said projection window when the matched condition issensed; and, means responsive to the spacing code pulses for translatingthe medium in accordance with the spacing kof the characterphotographed.

9. A phototypographic apparatus adapted for automatically composing, ona medium, a photograph of printing characters manually selected from akeyboard including a plurality of keys corresponding to the printingcharacters comprising in combination a rotary disk including an annularrow of said printing characters in the form of light transmittingIapertures theren; said disk further including a plurality of annularrows bearing a unique multi-bit code for each of said characters withthe i3 respective unique codes disposed in similar predeterminedorientation with the characters; said disk including a plurality ofannular rows bearing a single bit spacing code for each said characterwith the respective spacing codes being oriented in like predeterminedrelation to the associated characters; the hits o1" each of said codesbeing both circumterentially and radially spaced apart in said rows foreach character; means for deriving a character code signal from saiddisk for each character; means for deriving a spacing code signal fromsaid disk in association with each character signal; actuable lightprojecting means disposed on one side of the opposed rotary disk forprojecting light through the character apertures thereof to photographthe characters onto said medium; means for storing pulses as a signalcoded Iin accor-dance with each character initiated from the keyboard;means for comparing the character signals from the disk with eachselected stored character signal to sense a matched condition; means foractuating the light projection means when the matched condition issensed; and, means responsive to the spacing code signal for translatingthe medium in accordance with the spacing of the character photographed.it. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the deriving means and the bitpositions of the codes are deployed to insure simultaneous generation ofthe code and spacing signals.

1i. A phototypographic apparatus adapted for automatically composing aphotograph of selectable printing haracters on a medium, comprising incombination a single disc carrying said printing characters and carryingaunique multi-bit code representative of each of said characters andcarrying a unique multi-position single bit spacing code for each of thesaid printing characters; means for developing a signal in accordancewith any selected one of said character codes including means responsiveto each bit of .the carried character code for eveloping a signal inaccordance with each character; means responsive to said signals forselecting any of said characters for photographing; means responsive tosuch selection for photographing the character onto said medium; meansresponsive to the single bit of the spacing code to develop a furthersignal instantly and directly related to the incremental linear spacingmagnitude simultaneously with the development of the associatedcharacter signal; and, means for translating said medium an amount equalto said linear spacing magnitude in accordance with said further signal.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,652,755 9/53Higonnet et al. 95-4.5 2,714,843 S/55 Hoeven 95-4.5 2,846,932 8/58Hooven 95-4.5 2,933,990 4/60 Higonnet 95-4.5 3,059,219 10/62 OBrienS40-146.2

JOHN M. HORAN, Primary Examiner.

NORTON ANSI-IER, Examiner.

1. A PHOTOTYPOGRAPHIC APPARATUS OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED COMPRISING: A FILM HOLDER WHICH IS ADAPTED TO HAVE A PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM REMOVABLY MOUNTED THEREIN, MOUNTING MEANS BY WHICH SAID HOLDER IS MOUNTED FOR LATERAL AND VERTICAL MOVEMENTS, TRANSLATING MEANS BY WHICH SAID HOLDER IS ADAPTED TO BE INTERMITTENTLY MOVED LATERALLY AND/OR VERTICALLY IN RESPONSE TO CODE SIGNALS IMPARTED TO SAID TRANSLATING MEANS; A STATIONARY ELEMENT HAVING A CHARACTER IMAGE PROJECTION WINDOW THEREIN, A ROTARY ELEMENT WHICH IS DISPOSED ADJACENT TO SAID STATIONARY ELEMENT IN AXIAL ALIGNMENT THEREWITH AND IS ADAPTED TO BE CONSTANTLY ROTATED DURING OPERATION, AN ANNULAR ROW OF PRINTING CHARACTERS DISPOSED ON SAID ROTARY ELEMENT IN POSITION TO SUCCESSIVELY REGISTER WITH SAID PROJECTION WINDOW AS ROTARY ELEMENT IS ROTATED; A CHARACTER IMAGE PROJECTING MEANS COMPRISING A PHOTOGRAPHIC LENS AND A LIGHT SOURCE WHICH ARE MOUNTED IN FIXED POSITION IN AXIAL ALIGNMENT WITH SAID PROJECTION WINDOW WITH SAID LENS DISPOSED FORWARDLY OF SAID STATIONARY AND ROTARY ELEMENTS BETWEEN SAID ELEMENTS AND SAID FILM HOLDER AND SAID LIGHT SOURCE BEING DISPOSED REARWARDLY OF SAID ELEMENTS, SAID LENS BEING OPERATIVELY TO PROJECT THE IMAGE OF A PRINTING CHARACTER IN REGISTER WITH SAID PROJECTION WINDOW ONTO A FLIM IN SAID FLIM HOLDER; CONTROL MEANS BY WHICH SAID PHOTOGRAPHIC LENS IS NORMALLY MAINTAINED INOPERATIVE TO PROJECT A PRINTING CHARACTER IMAGE ONTO SAID FLIM, SAID LENS CONTROL MEANS BEING OPERATIVE IN RESPONSE TO AN ACTUATING PULSE IMPARTED THERETO A RENDER SAID LENS OPERATIVE TO PROJECT A PRINTING CHARACTER IMAGE ONTO SAID FILM; A PLURALITY OF ANNULARLY AND RADIALLY SPACED CHARACTER CONTROL WINDOWS, AND A PLURALITY OF ANNULARLY AND RADIALLY SPACED CHARACTER SPACING CONTROL WINDOWS IN SAID ROTARY ELEMENT, A PLURALITY OF ANNULARLY AND RADIALLY SPACED AUXILIARY CHARACTER CONTROL WINDOWS AND A PLURALITY OF ANNULARLY AND RADIALLY SPACED 